This would have had me crucified on tumblr 10 years ago but maybe we are ready for this conversation now:
If you are a socially anxious person, you have to socialize. Your panic/anxiety attacks will only get worse and trigger more frequently if you constantly avoid contact with The Public. Not saying that you need to be a social butterfly- but there is a genuine problem with not being able to order your own meal at a restaurant. And it cannot be solved by always having someone else do it for you.
This is a PSA to about 3/4s of the Portland Youth populace
everyone who reblogs this and is like "I ordered my own tea this week" or "I only barfed once when I had to give a presentation'- you are doing amazing sweetie. Have patience with yourself, you are relearning a skill so difficult that people get 4 year degrees to do it professionally.
I would also add, sometimes you do need to step back
I had an event that I was worried about, where I might have to talk about something that I was struggling to mask my autism about
And I was telling a friend, and she scoffed, saying "just don't be aggy"
And then I admitted what my non-masked response would be
And she was like "oh shit, yeah, that's super aggy"
And I know that
I know that I come across as a bitch when I don't mask
And I've recovered enough that I think I can mask appropriately, but whether or not I stepped back was a reasonable response in this instance
The key is that you need to be able to step back in when it's safe
And I was telling
a friend, and she scoffed, saying
"just don’t be aggy”
Beep boop! I look for accidental haiku posts. Sometimes I mess up.
